My last mock draft earlier in the week was a bit of a cop-out. I didn’t pair anyone with the Seahawks at #32. I only did one round. I planned to do another mock next week but I couldn’t wait.
I’ve been able to do a lot of work in the last 48 hours, including speaking to sources I often check in with at this time of year to get their opinions on certain players. Those conversations have played a big part in this mock.
A full description of every pick is available below the graphics, for both rounds. At the end I offer some detailed thoughts on the Seahawks.
Round one
#1 Las Vegas — Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana)
I don’t think Mendoza warrants going first overall. He’s in this spot because he’s viewed as QB1 and he had a tremendously successful season with Indiana. Personally I think the Raiders should continue building their roster up, adding a veteran quarterback and they should avoid being a slave to trying to find a franchise saviour at QB just because they’re picking first overall. Dan Orlovsky’s view that Ty Simpson is a better prospect is not an opinion shared by anyone I spoke to this week in preparing for this new mock.
#2 NY Jets — Rueben Bain (DE, Miami)
The Jets can’t afford to take a project here. They need someone who can come in and elevate performance immediately. My reservations about Bain’s body type and length are not shared by some people in the league. They just see him as an amazing arse kicker who will beat opponents up in the trenches. Aaron Glenn was in Detroit when they took Aidan Hutchinson #2 overall. I just wonder if they’ll see Bain as a similar tone-setter and impact addition to the defense. He would have the ability to play the edge, five-tech, reduce inside for some pass-rushing reps. He might be a safe, solid investment — a ‘double’ rather than trying to hit a home-run.
#3 Arizona — Francis Mauigoa (T/G, Miami)
The Cardinals need to build a foundation in the trenches. They have some pieces but not enough. Mauigoa is not going to let you down as a pick. He is a tone setter who could be very good at right tackle and exceptional at guard. You are not going to regret selecting him. He will be able to start on day one and improve your running game, your physicality and your overall toughness as a team.
#4 Tennessee — Arvell Reese (LB, Ohio State)
You can make a reasonable case for Reese being the best overall talent in the draft, in competition with Jeremiyah Love and Caleb Downs. He does have special qualities as a linebacker and as an EDGE. Running a 4.46 with a 1.58 split also shows he has the quickness to be a threat wherever he lines up. There is an element of projection here though — and the Titans might prefer a more obvious, orthodox ‘EDGE’. Someone has to take a chance on Reese’s upside though and the Titans, after their work in free agency, seem well placed to do so.
#5 NY Giants — Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
There was only one question mark with Delane — how fast is he? His processing on the field, his competitive nature, his production were all good enough to be the top corner. Yet he didn’t run at the combine which added to some concern that maybe he wasn’t that fast. Then, at LSU’s pro-day, he ran a reported 4.38. There’s every chance this is a generous time but even then, it means at worst he’s a 4.4 runner. That’s a big tick in the box. The Giants have a huge need at cornerback and might decide to select the clear CB1.
#6 Cleveland — Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State)
Everybody is convinced the Browns are going to take a receiver or an offensive lineman here. Yet they’ve spent the off-season building up their trenches already, there’s not an obvious left tackle worthy of this spot and there are receivers to be had later on. A year ago they took Mason Graham after trading down. Some people viewed Graham as the best player in the draft (rightly or wrongly). I suspect the Browns might do the same thing here, ignoring perceived needs and just taking the best player. It’s quite possible Downs is seen as BPA.
#7 Washington — Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
Love could go earlier but this is the range where the quality backs tend to go these days (see: Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson). Make no mistake, he’s one of the very best players at his position to enter the league in recent history. He’s an outstanding talent and would provide instant excitement and sparkle to the Commanders’ offense.
#8 New Orleans — David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech)
I’m not sold on Bailey. He doesn’t have a typical body type for a devastating EDGE, he really only had one big year of production and that was while playing for Texas Tech’s attempt to create the ‘Harlem Globetrotters’ via NIL on defense. His change of direction worries me. But everyone else thinks he’s going to go this early.
#9 Kansas City — Spencer Fano (T, Utah)
I don’t understand why Fano was suddenly appearing way down the list in mock drafts. His testing profile is elite — in terms of athleticism and explosive traits (3.23 TEF). He has a shade under 33-inch arms but he was five times the player Will Campbell was on tape and he went in the top-five last year. There’s absolutely no reason for the Chiefs not to draft him and plug him in as a day-one starter at right tackle. Plus, Kansas City loves to draft for traits.
#10 Cincinnati — Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
I think his combine performance is being counted twice in a lot of recent mocks. I thought his tape was fine. Good not great. Yet his calling card was outstanding testing. I don’t see why, having merely confirmed he’s a great athlete, he was suddenly being bumped into the top-five. I don’t see a big impact player who will influence games enough to justify a top-10 pick. But some people really like him.
#11 Miami — Vega Ioane (G, Penn State)
Some teams reportedly think Ioane is the top offensive lineman in this draft so don’t be surprised if he goes in this range. The Dolphins could do a lot worse than invest in the trenches to kick-start their re-build. A highly athletic, big-bodied interior blocker is a good idea if you plan to pay De’Von Achane and make him the focal point of your offense.
#12 Dallas — Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee)
I think McCoy has the same agent as Micah Parsons, which made me question whether they’d do this. Yet I also believe George Pickens also has the same agent and they seem to be keen to hang on to him — so maybe I’m overthinking that angle. This would be a non-ideal scenario for the Cowboys where several preferred options are off the board. I know some people in the league view McCoy as one of only three obvious ‘#1 cornerback’ types in this class.
#13 LA Rams (v/ATL) — Makai Lemon (WR, USC)
Irrespective of his weird combine interviews, Lemon is a quality player. With the way Puka Nacua has been acting recently — part of me wonders if the Rams might try and shift him on. In this scenario they have their pick of the receivers in the draft. Would they take one here, then try and trade Nacua to say the Jets for the #16 pick? At what point is paying Nacua +$42m a year too big a risk, regardless of his talent? And can Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford simply insert Lemon, Carnell Tate or Jordan Tyson into the same role?
#14 Baltimore — Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State)
I like Tate. His body control, ability to adjust to the ball and consistency are all really good. But he’s a 4.5 runner and he just doesn’t ‘wow’ you enough to think he’s a lock for the top-10. I do think there’s a chance he lasts into the teens and he might not be the first receiver taken. This isn’t an opinion only I share either — people I’ve spoken to have said the same thing. I think he’s being overrated as a nailed-on top-10 type.
#15 Tampa Bay — Akheem Mesidor (DE, Miami)
The Buccs have such a striking need for a pass-rusher, I wonder if this could be a Maxx Crosby spot nearer the draft. If they don’t make a move like that, it’ll be interesting to see if they force the issue here and take the best available EDGE. Meisdor is seen as a very different type of prospect to Bain but the expectation is, despite his age and injury history, he will still go in round one.
#16 NY Jets (v/IND) — Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State)
I’ve only heard positive things about Tyson. It seems he is loved by some, who view him firmly as WR1. The injury history is a concern but he’s going to do a personal workout before the draft. If all goes well there, he could go in this range — if not earlier.
#17 Detroit — Caleb Lomu (T, Utah)
For me, Lomu is the most natural left tackle in the draft. He is the player you can most confidently place at left tackle early in his career. He could go earlier than this for that reason — plus he’s very athletic and an explosive tester (3.08 TEF). You hear very different things about Lomu compared to Monroe Freeling.
#18 Minnesota — Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)
Thieneman is an incredible talent who had one of the best on-field combine performances I can recall in 18 years of writing this blog. His upside potential is so high he could go a lot earlier than this. He has special qualities. This would actually be a steal for the Vikings.
#19 Carolina — Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
The Panthers aggressively addressed their needs in free agency and can now let the board come to them. In this position they might just think why not take a chance on Sadiq? There are inconsistencies in his game but his testing profile is through the roof. They need more ways to threaten opponents, they need people you have to game-plan for as a defense.
#20 Dallas (v/GB) — Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama)
In 2016 Tony Romo was approaching his 35th birthday. The Cowboys tried to trade up in round one to draft Paxton Lynch (the Broncos beat them to it). Instead, they drafted Dak Prescott. Romo suffered a compression fracture in his back months later, Prescott stole his job and the rest is history. Fast forward to today. Prescott turns 33 in July. He has an injury history. The Cowboys traded for Trey Lance and Joe Milton and appear to at least be entertaining the idea of finding someone who can potentially be the future. If they rate Simpson highly — and there’s plenty of buzz suggesting he will go in round one — they might draft him to plan ahead, allowing him to sit and learn for the next year or two. If Prescott gets injured again, we might see Simpson elevated in the way Prescott was in 2016. There’s also no linebacker worth this pick and the depth at that position should present an attractive option in round three.
#21 Pittsburgh — Emmanuel Pregnon (G, Oregon)
I don’t think many of the national mock drafts appreciate how much the league values explosive traits when it comes to offensive linemen. Pregnon’s testing profile is historically outstanding (3.40 TEF). He also graded very highly and will provide a day-one starter who can perform quickly at a good level. These types of players do not last very long on draft day. Don’t be surprised if he goes a lot earlier than the projections are suggesting.
#22 LA Chargers — Keldric Faulk (DE, Auburn)
Faulk is difficult to place. He is liked. He’s well respected at Auburn for his personality and character. He has good size and should immediately come in and play the run at a decent standard. You can also use him in a number of different ways — and this is what teams are looking for now. However, his pass-rush production was poor in college and he hasn’t produced a full testing profile.
#23 Philadelphia — Blake Miller (T, Clemson)
Miller is so explosive and mobile it wouldn’t be a surprise if he goes earlier than this. As with Pregnon, there simply aren’t many players with his testing profile. In a league constantly desperate for good offensive linemen, this matters. His explosive testing mark is not a million miles away from Lane Johnson’s (3.44 TEF vs 3.36). Tackles like this go in round one.
#24 Cleveland (v/JAX) — Denzel Boston (WR, Washington)
He hasn’t run a forty and personally, I worry about the speed. He’s not as quick as Rome Odunze and he has struggled to translate his game to the NFL. That said, I know Boston is very well liked for his physical playing style, his willingness to get stuck into his blocking and the way he wins contested catches. I think there’s a chance he jumps ahead of some of the smaller receivers because teams will like his make-up, even if there are questions about his quickness.
#25 Chicago — Monroe Freeling (T, Georgia)
So many mocks have Freeling in the top-10 but that’s not the sense I got this week. The feeling seems to be that although he’s highly athletic, explosive and well-sized, Freeling simply isn’t ready to start in the NFL. He isn’t physical enough, isn’t strong enough. He needs technical corrections. I think it’s more likely he goes somewhere where he can be developed and not feel like he needs to start immediately.
#26 Buffalo — Cashius Howell (EDGE, Texas A&M)
He’s a relentless, intense pass rusher with good quickness and the ability to get around the edge. His win percentage is 19.8%. However, his short arms make him a little bit unorthodox and one-dimensional. He might need to be used as a specialist rusher. In that kind of role he can cause problems for opponents but some will question his ability to play early downs — so there will be mixed reviews on his value in round one.
#27 San Francisco — Avieon Terrell (CB, Clemson)
“He’s like his brother” was the comment put to me — and that’s all anyone should need to hear to think Terrell is going in round one. He’s more physical than you’d expect for his size and he can play outside or in the slot. The 49ers should be popping champagne if he lasts to this spot — although they might focus on getting more speed on offense instead.
#28 Houston — Kayden McDonald (DT, Ohio State)
I wanted to see more at the combine because on tape you see flashes of athleticism that teased a great workout. Then he didn’t run or jump and looked sluggish during on-field drills. Even if that upside isn’t there, McDonald is going to be able to come in and secure your run-defense from the interior.
#29 Kansas City (v/LAR) — Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State)
Johnson looks like a steady player. He will get beat downfield sometimes and the big cushions he gave up in college won’t necessarily work in the NFL. Even so, he’s smart and tough and will give you a competitive cornerback.
#30 Miami (v/DEN) — Max Iheanachor (T, Arizona State)
Iheanachor is explosive (3.12 TEF) and athletic and showed really well at the combine. If the Dolphins want to invest in the trenches as a priority, why not double-dip on the offensive line? It’d be a statement of intent that they want to move away from a finesse, soft underbelly and become a team that can kick your arse. Iheanachor wouldn’t have to start right away and it would give them a chance to have young book-end tackles for the long term.
#31 New England — Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, UCF)
It caught my attention when Todd McShay suggested Lawrence could sneak into the late first round. The teams at #31 and #32 might consider him. Only three pass rushers at the combine ran an elite 10-yard split in the 1.5’s — Arvell Reese, Cashius Howell and Lawrence. His production is very good in terms of win-percentage, he has the length and his GPS tracking shows he is easily the quickest of the pass-rushers in this class. There’s a lot to work with here.
#32 Seattle — Jadarian Price (RB, Notre Dame)
The Seahawks need to replace Ken Walker’s big-play ability in the running game and Price has by far the best explosive run-rate in his class (21.2%) — higher than even Jeremiyah Love (19.6%), clear of Mike Washington (18%) and miles ahead of Emmett Johnson, Jonah Coleman and others. It was mentioned to me this week by someone who is a.) in the league and b.) not known for hot takes that Price could, potentially, have a better career than his Notre Dame team-mate. Just saying. The Seahawks know there’s a big shelf at running back with such a thin group so they might address this here then look at other positions later — particularly if the likes of Johnson, Pregnon, Howell and Lawrence are off the board.
Round two
#33 NY Jets — CJ Allen (LB, Georgia)
The Jets have worked hard to fill a lot of needs so can pretty much let the board come to them. I can imagine Aaron Glenn liking Allen — a thumping downhill attacker who can help add toughness to the defense.
#34 Arizona — TJ Parker (EDGE, Clemson)
He had an underwhelming 2025 but has somewhat recovered his stock at the Senior Bowl and by running a 1.61 10-yard split at the combine. I still think he’s one-dimensional as a pass-rusher and relies too much on playing off a straight-arm move. He doesn’t attack the outside shoulder enough to threaten with speed.
#35 Tennessee — Chris Bell (WR, Louisville)
The Titans eventually need to add more weapons for Cam Ward. Bell has been getting some first round buzz as he recovers from injury and the fact is he’s a different type of player to the receivers already on their roster. He’s big, has major YAC ability and can be both a big-play artist and a safety-net for Cam Ward.
#36 Las Vegas — Omar Cooper Jr (WR, Indiana)
Wouldn’t it be great to reconnect Fernando Mendoza with one of his targets from Indiana? I think perhaps Cooper is being mocked a little bit too high in some places. This feels about his range.
#37 NY Giants — Kadyn Proctor (T/G, Alabama)
He came to Alabama at 380lbs and while he’s managed to get it down to about 360lbs, there’s a feeling you’ll always need to keep an eye on his weight. On top of this, he has to kick inside to guard at the next level. I think there’s every chance he slips out of round one. The Ravens under John Harbaugh regularly took massive offensive linemen.
#38 Houston — Anthony Hill Jr (LB, Texas)
I don’t think Hill is noticeably better than the clutch of other day-two linebackers but there seems to be buzz about him going in the top-40.
#39 Cleveland — Brandon Cisse (CB, South Carolina)
When I asked a source who could be a ‘#1 cornerback’ in this draft, Cisse’s name was mentioned along with Delane and McCoy. His 4.4 forty at 189lbs wasn’t great but he plays with a fire and there’s a profile to work with here.
#40 Kansas City — Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
His pro-day numbers didn’t live up to expectations and that could easily see him last into the early part of day two. The Chiefs might roll the dice on unlocking what he showed in 2024 for Clemson.
#41 Cincinnati — AJ Haulcy (S, LSU)
He feels like a player the Bengals will like. He’s tough, versatile, comes downhill and hits you in the face but also shows good instinct and a nose for the ball.
#42 New Orleans — KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
He’s a talented player but the drops will bother some teams. He had 19 in three seasons on 294 targets. That’s simply too many. He also has an injury situation which could see him last.
#43 Miami — Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
He’s not going to fit every scheme but in man-coverage he’ll be highly competitive and live in the hip-pocket.
#44 NY Jets (v/DAL) — Keionte Scott (CB, Miami)
My theme for the Jets is ‘get tougher and be harder to beat’. Scott would be another outstanding addition as they try to pull that off. In the slot or at safety, he will run downfield and smack you in the face.
#45 Baltimore — Zion Young (DE, Missouri)
The Ravens add a player who is physical and intense on the field but is a complicated assessment off it. His personality is a bit odd and getting a DWI/speeding arrest just before draft season is absolutely stupid for many reasons.
#46 Tampa Bay — Kyle Louis (LB, Pittsburgh)
Drew Fabianich from the Senior Bowl reminded me recently during our conversation that the Buccs drafted Lavonte David, who was undersized for a portion of his college career, and enjoyed great success. Louis, despite only being 220lbs, plays like he’s 240lbs.
#47 Indianapolis — Gabe Jacas (EDGE, Illinois)
Jacas’ tape is so mixed. Nearly a season’s worth with little in the way of pass-rush but then a late flourish. Great speed numbers on the GPS at the Senior Bowl but less so during the regular season. Now, we don’t have testing numbers. I’m not sure — but some teams will like him.
#48 Atlanta — Chris Brazell II (WR, Tennessee)
He’s just so quick and dynamic and Tua Tagovailoa — if he starts — only really performed in Miami with truly excellent speedsters running routes.
#49 Minnesota — Romello Height (EDGE, Texas Tech)
They need more pass-rush, especially if Jonathan Greenard eventually moves on. Height’s pass-rush win-percentage (21.8%) was third behind only Nadame Tucker and Reuben Bain.
#50 Detroit — Jalen Kilgore (S, South Carolina)
He is really tough and productive. His testing speed was outstanding and he’s a dude. He could go earlier than this. Kilgore is a fun player to watch.
#51 Carolina — Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
I thought his tape was average and his testing profile was exactly the same. He misses too many tackles but the length and range will intrigue some. Not my flavour of safety but some people think he goes quite early.
#52 Green Bay — D’Angelo Ponds (CB, Indiana)
The tenacity, performance and success are undeniable but Ponds’ height is going to be an issue for some teams and that will keep him on the board longer than his talent perhaps warrants.
#53 Pittsburgh — Antonio Williams (WR, Clemson)
The Steelers nearly always find value at receiver in this range. Williams’ numbers suffered as Clemson struggled but he definitely has the talent to go in round two.
#54 Philadelphia — Treydan Stukes (CB/S, Arizona)
You can play him in multiple different spots given his physical profile but Stukes is a really intriguing day two prospect who offers so much in the way of production and leadership. I like his fit as a roaming, instinctive, free safety.
#55 LA Chargers — Gennings Dunker (T/G, Iowa)
He just feels like a Jim Harbaugh player. Tough, physical, quirky personality. He could plug in at guard and cover at tackle if needed.
#56 Jacksonville — Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
Banks has the size, length and athleticism to be a top-10 pick. However, when you’re as big as he is and you keep getting foot injuries, including when you’re just working out at the combine, it’s scary. The medicals could keep him off some boards, we’ll see what happens. Eventually someone will take a shot on him, he’s too good not to.
#57 Chicago — Lee Hunter (DT, Texas Tech)
I think he’s a sack of potatoes personally. His body is shaped like an orange resting on two matchsticks. His embarrassing lack of explosive traits (21.5-inch vertical) highlight the issue. But there are people I really respect who I’ve spoken to this week who think he’s great and will be a really decent one-technique.
#58 San Francisco — Mike Washington Jr (RB, Arkansas)
Having lost Brian Robinson Jr, with Christian McCaffrey getting older, and with the 49ers having spent a couple of day two picks on running backs in the last five years, clearly they are willing to invest in the position. Kyle Shanahan said he wants more speed on offense and they don’t get much quicker than Washington Jr.
#59 Houston — Dametrious Crownover (T, Texas A&M)
Having addressed other needs earlier in the draft, they can afford to plan ahead. Braden Smith turns 30 today and signed a two-year deal in Houston. Why not invest in cover and an heir apparent in the talented, athletic and massive Crownover?
#60 Chicago (v/BUF) — Germie Bernard (WR, Alabama)
Having addressed the O-line and D-line earlier, now the Bears can afford to add a weapon. Bernard isn’t as explosive as DJ Moore but he can pick up the slack left by the trade.
#61 LA Rams — Keith Abney (CB, Arizona State)
It’s all about adding depth for the Rams at this stage and Abney, who is well worth a day two pick, would be someone who could be starting sooner rather than later.
#62 Denver — Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech)
Arguably their biggest remaining need after the Jaylen Waddle trade is to add a linebacker. Rodriguez might not have a ton of upside but he’ll get the job done in a defense that will ask him to attack downfield.
#63 New England — Josiah Trotter (LB, Missouri)
Speaking to people over the last 48 hours, I was struck how well liked Trotter is. The feeling is he’s a lot more like his dad than brother Jeremiah is and he could end up being a Nick Bolton type.
#64 Seattle — R Mason Thomas (EDGE, Oklahoma)
In terms of testing and measurables, Thomas doesn’t stand out. However, he very much fits the ‘smart, tough, reliable’ mantra, his motor never stops, his pass-rush win percentage is very good (20.3%) and his run defense grade is very solid for his size (79.4). He can be used as a situational rusher and a linebacker hybrid.
Further thoughts on the Seahawks
They won’t take Jadarian Price that early you idiot!
You might want to consider the following statistics. These are the explosive run rates for running backs in this class. Note that the average rate for drafted running backs in the last 10 years is 16%:
Jadarian Price – 21.2%
Jeremiyah Love – 19.6%
Mike Washington – 18%
Emmett Johnson – 14.3%
Kaytron Allen – 14.3%
Kaelon Black – 14%
Jonah Coleman – 12.7%
Roman Hemby – 11.3%
Nick Singleton – 9.7%
J’Mari Taylor – 9.5%
More than anything, the Seahawks’ offense needs explosive running. They need to replace the big-play threat they lost when Ken Walker departed. The statistics above show that Price can deliver big plays at a high rate, even when working in a timeshare with Jeremiyah Love. He makes the most of his opportunities.
Sources I’ve spoken to this week raved about Price’s toughness, big-play ability and it was even put to me that he could have a better career than Love because he’s a more physically capable player. You might scoff at that suggestion but the source wasn’t some random person sat on his couch eating pizza, I can assure you of that.
The source added he thought Price was an early second round talent and the next running back was some distance behind him (rounds 3-4).
Also, if you don’t think Price at #32 (or after a small trade down) is realistic, consider this. If I’d said to you on the 25th March 2018 that the Seahawks would trade down from #18 and select Rashaad Penny in round one, you wouldn’t have believed that either. I suspect you equally would’ve denied the likelihood of drafting Zach Charbonnet in round two a year removed from using a second round pick on Ken Walker.
The reality is Price offers immediate bang for your buck at a salary cost of around $2.6m as a rookie. His cap-hit by year-four will only be about $4.5-5m. When you need to save money to pay others, this is the kind of move you make.
What would their thinking be?
I strongly suspect the Seahawks were fully armed with a plan once they decided not to pursue keeping Ken Walker at the contract level he received from the Chiefs.
It seems unlikely the team that constantly talks up the running game, and who just appointed San Francisco’s running-game coordinator to lead their offense, are going to ‘hope for the best’ at this position.
I don’t think the plan is to hope some of the players from within this thin group of running backs will be available at #96.
This isn’t to say Jadarian Price is a lock or anything with their top pick. It’s very easy to imagine they’d seriously consider players like Chris Johnson (top graded zone cornerback per PFF), Cashius Howell, Emmanuel Pregnon or Malachi Lawrence. If a better player is available that you ‘have to have’ then you pivot. Maybe, in that situation, you assess your options at #64 and/or #96?
In this mock they aren’t available though, so Price was the choice.
In any draft, you have to work out the positional shelves. This running back class is so lacking in depth, they’ll almost certainly be conscious of that.
I think their ideal plan if they do intend to target Price will be to move down a few spots, gain something like a high fifth round pick, and take him in the late 30’s.
What about at #64?
The depth at cornerback lends itself to going in a different direction at #64. In this projection the likes of Hezekiah Masses, Chandler Rivers, Daylen Everette and Julian Neal are all available — among others. I think you can find a cornerback in round three and even if you somehow miss out, the Seahawks seem to rate their draft-hedge Noah Igbinoghene.
The Seahawks do need to replace Boye Mafe. They haven’t added any extra EDGE rush help so far, unlike the moves they’ve made at cornerback, running back and safety. They could wait until after the draft to check-in with players like Von Miller. I think they’ll do that anyway. After all, they wanted to sign Miller 12 months ago when Mafe was still under contract.
R Mason Thomas is an ideal fit in terms of playing style and character — but not an ideal fit in terms of traits. He’s only 6-2 and 241lbs with 31.5 inch arms. He only ran a 1.63 10-yard split. At his size, it’s not great.
People I spoke to this week questioned what you would want him to do at the next level — act as a situational rusher or maybe convert to linebacker. I actually think the Seahawks might be a decent fit for him. He can be used to just pin his ears back on passing downs. Mike Macdonald has also had success with smaller rushers — Kyle Van Noy was 243lbs coming into the league, ran a 1.62 10-yard split and had the exact same arm length as Thomas.
He has better grades in run defense than TJ Parker and Derrick Moore. Here’s how he compares for pass-rush win percentage:
Nadame Tucker — 28.4%
Rueben Bain Jr — 23.5%
Romello Height — 21.8%
David Bailey — 21.6%
Joshua Josephs — 21.2%
Akheem Mesidor — 20.8%
R Mason Thomas — 20.3%
Cashius Howell — 19.9%
Derrick Moore — 19.8%
Malachi Lawrence — 19.2%
Leyton Crawford — 18.3%
Zion Young — 17.4%
Max Llewellyn — 17.2%
Mason Reiger — 15.9%
Dani Dennis-Sutton — 15.8%
Logan Fano — 15.6%
TJ Parker — 15.5%
Gabe Jacas — 15.2%
Caden Curry — 13.6%
Jaishawn Barham — 13.1%
Anthony Lucas — 12.4%
Keldric Faulk — 11.6%
LT Overton 8.8%
What I think this two-round mock draft shows, perhaps, is that the idea of trading for Jonathan Greenard using #64 perhaps should be re-considered.
Thomas has some interesting qualities and he’d be cheap for four years. That might be the most important thing as you prepare to pay Devon Witherspoon and eventually Byron Murphy in 12 months.
If you have some spending flexibility, think of it like this. R Mason Thomas is not a typical looking NFL edge rusher. As such, if he doesn’t work out, that’s a one contract situation.
Do you take the chance on someone like that and try to save money, or do you embrace acquiring 29-year-old Greenard, knowing he might only have three years left at his best, maximum? It’d be more expensive but you would know what you’re getting in 2026, when you’re looking to capitalise on your Championship window.
It’s hard to give up a second round pick in a trade for a 29-year-old coming off a down year — but not all second round picks are the same. This is the last pick in the round in a thin draft class.
Seattle’s defense does a great job against the run. They don’t get enough ‘quick wins’ though. They need more speed and dynamism off the edge. It’s a question whether they might get that from a veteran trade, rather than relying on the draft class where there is some reasonable pass-rush depth, admittedly. It’s one of the few positions where there are options.
I think it’s an interesting talking point and perhaps it’s something you do closer to the draft when you have a clear picture on whether or not you’ll be able to get an edge rusher you like in the first two days of the draft.
Here are my 32 most intriguing players left on the board for round three (by position, not talent order):
Cole Payton (QB, North Dakota State)
Emmett Johnson (RB, Nebraska)
Skyler Bell (WR, Connecticut)
De’Zhaun Stribling (WR, Ole Miss)
Ted Hurst (WR, Georgia State)
Oscar Delp (TE, Georgia)
Eli Stowers (TE, Vanderbilt)
Billy Schrauth (G, Notre Dame)
Keylan Rutledge (G, Georgia Tech)
Brian Parker (G/C, Duke)
Logan Jones (C, Iowa)
Jaishawn Barham (EDGE, Michigan)
Joshua Josephs (EDGE, Tennessee)
Dani Dennis-Sutton (EDGE, Penn State)
Gracen Halton (DT, Oklahoma)
Darrell Jackson Jr (DT, Florida State)
Domonique Orange (DT, Iowa State)
Tim Keenan (DT, Alabama)
DeMonte Capehart (DT, Clemson)
Christen Miller (DT, Georgia)
Jake Golday (LB, Cincinnati)
Keyshaun Elliott (LB, Arizona State)
Harold Perkins (LB, LSU)
Hezekiah Masses (CB, California)
Chandler Rivers (CB, Duke)
Daylen Everette (CB, Georgia)
Julian Neal (CB, Arkansas)
Jadon Canady (CB, Oregon)
Devin Moore (CB, Florida)
Malik Muhammad (CB, Texas)
Zakee Wheatley (S, Penn State)
Bud Clark (S, TCU)